Open To Discussion

Seniors Ready To Talk About Today's Issues At `In The Headlines' Event At Casa Del Mar.

July 18, 2004|By Diane C. Lade Staff writer

People in their 70s and beyond might have grown up in another era, but talking over what's happening today is one of their favorite pastimes, say activities and educational specialists who work in retirement communities.

"In the Headlines" has been a popular weekly offering at Abby Delray retirement community. Residents bring in their favorite news article or headline, and a lively discourse ensues. "It's very important to them. They are all up on the news, listening to Fox or CNN," said Linda Lanson, social director at Abbey Delray North in Delray Beach.

Murray Weinstein, who leads the discussions every Friday at Casa Del Mar in Boca Raton, finds residents are eager to discuss what's going on, not just in the United States but around the world.

"People here are interested in Iraq. They are interested in Israel. We spent lots of time on the new Medicare bill before it was passed last year," said Weinstein, 93. "They are bright, intelligent people."

The group starts with Weinstein reading from articles he industriously clips from several newspapers. After the narrative, which sometimes includes a few explanatory asides, the questions and comments begin.

Several months ago, one topic was Mel Gibson's controversial movie The Passion of the Christ. "The Pope saw it and said that's the way [the crucifixion] happened," Weinstein said, paraphrasing from a clipping.

"Was he there?" asked one woman from the back of the room, filled with about 30 people. "It was 2,000 years ago. How would he know?"

"Couple that with their life experience. They fought in world wars," said Meyerson, executive director of FAU's Lifelong Learning Society. "They have a natural interest in the world today."

Meyerson's popular program, which has about 18,000 senior citizen members enrolled on FAU's Boca Raton and Jupiter campuses, offers lectures on topics that include the arts, humanities and social sciences. About 60 percent involve current affairs because that's what students want, he said.

"Many of them grew up politically active," Meyerson said. "They had an investment in their world and they followed it into the retirement years."

Sometimes, all that investment can make things a little intense.

Lanson said Abbey Delray's current events group discussion never gets "too rowdy" -- maybe because sessions are moderated by the community's chaplain.

But in the dining room recently, verbal fireworks exploded when a resident wearing a "Beat Bush" button bumped into a die-hard Republican on the way to her table.

"One said the button wasn't appropriate. The other said `I can wear what I want,' and they got into a shouting match," said Linda Lanson, social director at Abbey Delray North in Delray Beach.

But dM-itente prevailed. The pair agreed to disagree and reconciled over dinner, Lanson said.